ANST - the infinite peerage and the rapier peerage

[James Crouchet]

Lyon wrote:

> As I noted previously, I have not found much support for said peerage among
> the rapier community.  Here are a few of the arguments against a peerage
> that I've heard from members of that community:
> 
> 1) All of the White Scarves will expect to be elevated; many who are not
> will be insulted.

Actually, we have discussed this idea among ourselves over the years.
The
consensus seems to be that such an action is neither practical nor would
it be a Good Thing(tm). Some outside the order may expect that, but we
do
not. [Disclaimer: with so many WS all across the KW, there may be an
individual exception or two.]

Many have gone inactive. In other cases, there is no need to repeat past
mistakes. Most of our order are good Dons and Donas and deserve to be
there, but our order has it's problems as does any other.

> 2) Though the WS have generally been held to a high standard, members have
> been created in some kingdoms who were decidedly not peerage quality.  The
> argument in favor of this was, "Hey, we aren't peers.  We don't have to meet
> that standard. (I've heard this argument from three different dons, and no I
> won't share their names.)

Even so. I will also point out that some crowns with little or no clue
as to
what a Don should be have created WS over the objections of the order.
The
order has also recommended individuals who, in hindsight, were not good
choices.

> 3) Throughout most of the period in which unarmored rapier combat was
> practiced, knighthood was not offered for weapons mastery.  It would be
> inappropriate for me to be recognized for martial prowess.

Ah, Tivar's argument. Even a summary of my reply to this would be long,
so
suffice to say that there is another point of view on this. I a fairly
certain
that that Tivar's opinion does not represent that of the majority -- or
even a
significant portion -- of the WS (except in asmuch as Tivar by himself
IS a
significant portion of the WS).

> 4) I've seen how the peers behave, and I don't want that to happen to the
> White Scarf community.

A valid argument some years ago but not today. Consider that giving
someone
a PoA does not suddenly corrupt them; what we were referring to here was
getting "political appointees" to the circle as happens with Peerages.
However, the WS has now gained enough prominence that we DO get
political
appointees. We have for some years now.

> 5) The art is not mature SCA-wide. (Sorry, he did not elaborate.)

Meaning there is still one kingdom with no fencing allowed and a few
others
where it is a minor activity. Six of the fifteen kingdoms do not give
WS,
though most have their own rapier order. The question is whether
universal
acceptance is necessary. Rapier is certainly mature here in Ansteorra
and is
a part of most wars and IK events. I have never heard of a Laurel being
withheld because the person's art form was not practiced in all
kingdoms.

I hope this clears up a few questions.

Dore
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